Russia: Mice return from space, most of them dead

Russia: Mice return from space, most of them dead

Most of the mice, gerbils and other animals sent into space for a month by Russia died during the expedition.

A Russian space capsule carrying mice, gerbils and other animals returned from a month in space Sunday — most of them dead.

Less than half of the 45 mice, eight gerbils and 15 newts survived the flight in the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which was designed to test how extended periods of time in space might affect astronauts, Russian news agencies reported.